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H
hispagirl Asked January 2013

Does anyone know where I can donate leftover medication?

Does anyone know where I can donate leftover medicine. I've tried with the Hospice folks and hospitals but they say they can't take it. It seems to me that someone or somewhere this medicine can be used. It's never been opened and frankly I find it irresponsible on behalf of Medicare not to take it back and recycle. It is not expired. The medicines I have are:
Ipratropium Bromide
Oral Swabs
Symbicort
ProAir HFA
Lidocaine Hydrochloride oral topical solution
Spiriva

Please let me know where I can take these or if you all think I should simply dispose of them. I also have a brand new pair of hearing aids.
Thanks

5 Answers

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H
hispagirl Mar 2013
Update: I've checked with hospitals, pharmacies, doctors' offices and even homeless shelters and none of them take the left over medicines, even if these have not been opened because there are sick people out there that could have infected the medicines by injecting things into it and one would not know that because the medicines were still be closed. After this explanation, I totally understand why no one will take these medicines. I ended up throwing it all away. It's a shame that honest people like us cannot help those in need, but I do understand.
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M
mrgoodman8806 Mar 2013
I have 26 tablets of Afinitor that are unexpired. This drug was prescribed for my husband but his doctor switched him to another med. I read all the time about people that cannot pay for their meds and have no insurance. Isn't there a way that needy patients can take advantage of unused unexpired meds? Or is it all about liability?
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H
hispagirl Jan 2013
Thank you Mishka and Jeanne. I will contact her Primary doctor and see if he knows of a place where these can be discarded.
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J
jeannegibbs Jan 2013
I'm afraid MishkaM is correct. Drugs need to be disposed of carefully and cannot be donated. Our county has a drop-off place for unwanted drugs.

The hearing aids might be a different matter. I don't know about them.
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M
MishkaM Jan 2013
Hi, I think it is nice to think about donating meds but I do not think it is legal. I am pretty sure you need to call the patient's -whoever the meds were for- doctor and have them dispose of the medication. Do not throw it away as it can contaminate landfills and do not flush as it can contaminate water supply. You could call any pharmacy and they could tell you the proper way to dispose. It stinks that the meds cannot be used but , for safety reasons-lack of quality control-it is not legal.
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